Page 307 - grimms-fairy-tales

black, and they will be dressed in chain armour. They will
ask what you do here, but give no answer; and let them do
what they will—beat, whip, pinch, prick, or torment you—
bear all; only speak not a word, and at twelve o’clock they
must go away. The second night twelve others will come:
and the third night twenty-four, who will even cut off your
head; but at the twelfth hour of that night their power is
gone, and I shall be free, and will come and bring you the
Water of Life, and will wash you with it, and bring you back
to life and health.’ And all came to pass as she had said; Hei-
nel bore all, and spoke not a word; and the third night the
princess came, and fell on his neck and kissed him. Joy and
gladness burst forth throughout the castle, the wedding
was celebrated, and he was crowned king of the Golden
Mountain.
They lived together very happily, and the queen had a son.
And thus eight years had passed over their heads, when the
king thought of his father; and he began to long to see him
once again. But the queen was against his going, and said,
‘I know well that misfortunes will come upon us if you go.’
However, he gave her no rest till she agreed. At his going
away she gave him a wishing-ring, and said, ‘Take this ring,
and put it on your finger; whatever you wish it will bring
you; only promise never to make use of it to bring me hence
to your father’s house.’ Then he said he would do what she
asked, and put the ring on his finger, and wished himself
near the town where his father lived.
Heinel found himself at the gates in a moment; but the
guards would not let him go in, because he was so strangely

0 Grimms’ Fairy Tales